"Green is your color. It brings out the warm undertones in your skin." Dani brushed green eyeshadow over the lids of my blue eyes. "And with your honey blond hair, it really pops." She finished my makeup and moved on to my hair. "Hmmmm, maybe some loose curls?" A curling iron was heating up on the desk.
"What should I wear?" I tested the heat of the iron. "Is this fancy or casual?"
"I have the perfect shirt for you," Dani jumped up and headed for her closet. "This will look awesome on you." The shirt she held up was a dark purple wrap around that looked just tight enough to highlight my ample chest. I had been self-conscious of my curves when I was younger, but as I got older, I began to be proud of my athletic, hour glass shape. "Do you have a pair of denim shorts?" she asked.
I pulled open one of my dresser drawers and grabbed a pair of shorts. "Shoes?" I questioned her as I changed my clothes.
"Here, wear these." She tossed me a pair of cute wedge heels. "You'll look great!!" My inner girly-girl was nodding her approval. Dani dragged me back to the desk to finish my hair.
Half an hour later we were ready. I turned to grab my purse as a knock sounded at the door. Dani glanced over her shoulder, a worried look flashing across her face. "Who is it?"
"Me," I heard a deep voice. The door opened and a handsome blond guy walked into the room. "You look beautiful, sweetheart!" he exclaimed when he saw Dani.
She smiled and crossed the room to him. "Shawn, this is Katie, my roommate. Katie, this is Shawn Douglas, my boyfriend."
I smiled and gave a tentative wave. If this was her boyfriend, then his roommate was the famously icy Dustin. "Nice to meet you."
He held out his hand and flashed a set of dimples. "Katie, nice to meet you too. Are you girls getting all settled in?"
"Slowly but surely." I followed them out the door and down the hall, thankful that Shawn didn't seem to suffer from acute douchebaggery like his roommate.
"Phi Beta is a couple streets over. We can walk." Shawn draped a muscled arm over Dani's shoulders.
I let them lead while I concentrated on not falling in the tall wedge sandals that Dani had loaned me. We could hear the party before we could see it. The music was bumping, and people were littering the lawn of the huge frat house. As we approached the mayhem, I couldn't help but hear my mother's voice in my head, lecturing me about frat boys and spiked drinks.
"Most of the guys here are friends with Shawn and Dustin, so they are good guys. Mostly football players and basketball players." Dani smiled up at Shawn.
As we approached the door, that nervous fluttering in my stomach picked up its pace. I grabbed Dani's hand. "Do not ditch me in here. I don't know anyone."
She tugged me along with her. "I'll introduce you to some fun people. Right Shawn?"
"I'm sure Dani will introduce you to all the cool people. I'm gonna go look for the guys."
Dani looked at him, a hint of nervousness darkening her green eyes. "Don't be too long?" She pleaded.
"I'll be back in just a few." He kissed Dani's hand and headed off towards a group of loud toga-clad boys.
"Do you want something to drink?" Dani had to yell for me to hear her over the music.
I nodded, and she led me over to a table that was serving as a bar. "Andy! Two rum and cokes!" she ordered from a blond guy manning one side of the table.
"Are you sure we should trust these guys not to spike our drinks?" I glanced at Andy, who was dressed in an ill-fitting blue bed sheet.
"They won't spike them. They know who I am."
I raised my eyebrows as she handed me one of the drinks.
"Come on!" She pulled me toward the middle of the room. "Let's dance!!"
Dancing was another thing I wasn't good at, but it only took a few sips from my strong drink to loosen up and get into the spirit of the party. The DJ was awesome, and it was almost impossible not to get swept up in the crowd. By the time we were on our second drink, Dani had introduced me to at least ten people. I knew I wouldn't remember everyone's names, but it didn't matter, I was having fun.
"Do you want another?" Dani asked, when I drained the last of my drink.
"I think I'm good!" I shouted over the music. "I'll wait here for you!" I leaned my back against the wall and I realized I was a bit wobbly after that second drink. Dani made her way across the room back to Andy the bartender.
The toga boys were getting rowdier. They yelled things in Greek that I didn't understand and followed it up with cup after cup from the tapped keg in the middle of the room.
"Hey Katie, where's Dani?" Shawn walked over to where I was standing, scanning the crowd with intensity.
"Drink," I gestured.
"Dustin, this is Katie, Dani's roommate." Shawn nodded towards me as Dustin approached us.
"I know." He didn't even meet my eyes. I was getting the feeling that he was trying to be extra douchey for my benefit.
Dustin finished whatever was in his cup. "Where's Dani?"
I pointed to her as she approached us with a full cup. Dustin grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the door. "I need to talk to you. Alone!" He dragged her outside as Shawn and I looked on.
"Is he okay?" I asked, worried by Dustin's obvious anger.
"I hope so. Stay here." Shawn flashed me a nervous look and followed them out the door.
I wasn't happy to be by myself in a frat house after two strong drinks, but there was no way I was going to follow Shawn and Dani and angry Dustin.
"You must be new," I heard a voice behind me. I turned and came face to face with a dark-haired guy. "I'm sure I would remember someone as enticing as you." His eyes were a deep grey and his smile was amazing. I was beginning to see a trend at SLU. Beautiful people everywhere.
"Uh yah," I stammered. "I'm a freshman." So lame! I mentally slapped myself.
"Freshman, huh? Must be my lucky night," he spoke with a deep southern drawl. "Can I get you a drink?"
"No thanks," I deferred. "I've already had my limit."
"Limit?" He scoffed. "It's a party. You're not supposed to have a limit at a party!" He produced a cup. "The jungle juice is great; you should try it."
"No thanks," I repeated.
"Oh, come on, Katie. Don't you want to have some fun?"
"How do you know my name?" My heart tripped in my chest. I was sure I hadn't met him earlier. I would have remembered those eyes and that drawl.
"What do you say we go somewhere private and get to know each other better?" he whispered close to my ear. His voice was like honey, thick and sweet.
"I don't think so..." I began.
I felt him grab my arm and tug me. "There's a beautiful view from one of the rooms upstairs. We won't stay long. Just a quick look."
"I don't even know you," I glanced around, hoping to see Dani or Shawn. "I should wait here for my friends."
"My name is Daemon." His breath tickled my ear. "Now we know each other. What do you say? Just a quick look..." He repeated, his voice weaving in and out of my head.
"Maybe just a quick look..." I gazed into his eyes, feeling warm and drowsy. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a little voice whispered a warning. But I felt my body follow Daemon's instruction without pausing.
He turned to lead me towards the stairs.
"Where are you going?" An angry voice rang out behind me.
I stopped and spun around, dropping Daemons hand. Dustin was standing there, his green eyes flashing.
"Back off Dustin. Go find your own new girl." Daemon didn't appear to know that Dustin knew me.
Dustin grabbed my arm and pulled me to him with force. "This one is mine." My head began to swirl again. How much rum had been in those drinks? And what was with the alpha angry possessiveness from douche donkey?
Dani and Shawn rushed over to see what the commotion was all about. "What's the problem?" Shawn came up behind Dustin, folding his arms over his chest in best friend solidarity.
Dustin shoved me at Dani. "Take her home," he ordered Shawn and Dani. They hesitated, glancing around at the other party goers, who had stopped to observe the altercation. "Now!" he yelled.
I stared at Dustin in confusion. His deep green eyes pierced mine and my head began to feel heavy. Shawn tried to pull me away from the wall, but my legs buckled underneath me. The last thing I remembered was Shawn picking me up and heading for the door, before everything went dark.
Author's Note: Who doesn't love a good back to school party? Looks like Katie is getting settled in and making new friends. Let me know what you think in the comments! Luvs as always!! AM ð